Fishes of the family Zoarcidae from the extreme south of South America, particularly in Chilean waters, have been little studied as a group (Regan 1913, Norman 1937, Gosztonyi 1977). Although a series of contributions on this family have been published in recent years, only very recently new specimens of Ophthalmolycus macrops (Günther, 1880) have been collected. This species represents one of the rarest of the family, and thus represents one of the least known zoarcids in the region (Pequeño & Lamilla 1996). Until the study by Norman (1937), the species was known only from the holotype, caught at Puerto Bueno (50º 56S), in the northern part of Chile Magellan and Chilean Antarctic Region. Later its existence was reported near the western entrance of the Magellan Straits (52º 51S), based on six specimens collected there (Anderson & Gosztonyi 1991) (Fig. 1). Thus all previous studies were based on only seven specimens, deposited in different European collections. The CIMAR-Fjord cruises, sponsored by the Comité Oceanográfico Nacional (CONA), made new collections of fishes in southern Chile in the Aysen Region, which is one of the ichthyologically least well explored regions in the world. This area is rich in fjords, channels, and islands, and may allow the establishment of diverse faunas at various depths. Fishes collected on these cruises have included a few examples of zoarcids. A previous collection including these fishes from the region was made by the R/V Victor Hensen (Germany) in 1994 in the extreme southern continental part of Chile (Fig. 1).

Many species of bottom fishes, typically zoarcids among them are interesting from the standpoint of ichthyogeography. In the case of O. macrops, collections of which have been restricted to the most southerly channels of Chile, we have no knowledge of the intraspecific morphological variation which may occur in cases where new individuals may be collected at latitudes distant (north and south) from those of the presently known records. Since so few individuals have been available for examination, any new collections of this species are undoubtedly of great value in ichthyogeography. The recovery of samples of O. macrops more than 600 km north, as well as 200 km south of previous records allows new and valuable contributions in this field.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ophthalmolycus macrops, two specimens, IZUA-PM-2298, 142 and 152 mm TL, Toto Island (44º 17,7S; 73º 12,68W), 250 m depth, 20 July 2001, two specimens IZUA-PM-2299, 118 and 136 mm TL, Puyuhuapi Channel (44º 55S; 76º 06W), 250 m depth, 19 July 2001. The four aforementioned specimens were caught in a trawl set from the R/V Vidal Gormaz, during the CIMAR 7-Fjords cruise. A fifth specimen, IZUA-PM-1912, 157 mm TL, was caught south of the Magellan Straits at (54º 46,7S, 71º 08,6W), 634 m depth, 21 November 1994, with an Agassiz net set by the B/C Víctor Hensen, St. V.H. 1277, AGT 55 (Fig. 1). The methodology of Gosztonyi (1977), Anderson (1988), Anderson (1992), and Anderson & Gosztonyi (1991) was used to take measurements and make counts related to various structures on the specimens.

Abbreviations used are: total length (TL), standard length (SL) and head length (HL).

RESULTS

The new O. macrops specimens, caught in the western channels of Aysén, agree well with previous descriptions (Fig. 2). There were, however, some features such as the length of the pectoral fin and the width of the head as percentages of the standard length which were in minor disagreement with data of other authors (Table 1). This also applied to the length of the upper jaw, ocular diameter, and interorbital distance (Table 2). Our observations also showed a consistent pattern of the cephalic pores: two nasal, six suborbital, eight preoperculo-mandibular, and two postorbitals (Fig. 3), which are within the ranges reported in previous literature (Günther 1880, Regan 1913, Norman 1937, Gosztonyi, 1977, Anderson, 1992, Anderson & Gosztonyi 1991) (Table 3).

The depths of capture of these five new specimens ranged from 250 to 634 m, with the latter depth the greatest one at which O. macrops was ever recovered. Two of the new captures north of the Magellan Straits represent new geographic records for the species, and that from Toto Island (44º 17,7S), is the northernmost record documented to date. This site is about 600 km north of the type locality, Puerto Bueno. Recovery of this species south of the entrance of the Magellan Straits at 54º 46,7S extends its distribution to the south about 200 km at (approximately) the western entry to the straits (Fig. 1).

DISCUSSION

Given the scarcity of records of Ophthalmolycus macrops in the scientific literature, it may be stated that it is a rare species. This might partly be due to its occurrence in areas which are rarely surveyed and partly because it may inhabit highly specific (and as yet unknown) niches, rarely subject to sampling. Based on previous data (Günther 1880, Regan 1913, Norman 1937, Gosztonyi, 1977, Anderson & Gosztonyi 1991, Anderson 1992), only seven specimens have been available for study until the present one. Thus, the five specimens forming the basis of the present report form an important contribution to the knowledge of this rare species, representing almost half of all known specimens in the world.

Apart from the differences in some characteristics, the specimens of the present study agree well with previous descriptions (Günther 1880, Regan 1913, Norman 1937, Gosztonyi 1977, Anderson & Gosztonyi 1991, Anderson 1992), and the differences are considered as due to intraspecific variation. Our specimens were in excellent condition, leading to the assumption that the differences observed from previous results were not due to preservation method or other causes.

The new limits of distribution herein presented suggest that O. macrops is endemic to Chile southern channels, at depths corresponding to a deep continental shelf, or to the upper continental slope. Based on the new records herein reported, the distribution of O. macrops does not appear to have obstacles which could be considered major geographic barriers, such as the Taitao peninsula. In fact, this species until now considered as endemic to the Patagonian fjords, lives both north and south of this peninsula. It is probable that Taitao peninsula can acts as a barrier for shallow water fishes such as those of the intertidal and upper subtidal zones (generally ≤ 40-50 m), but would not be a barrier to fishes from deeper habitats such as O. macrops.

The geographic distribution now known for O. macrops shows that this species lives in depths typical of the deep continental shelf and upper slope, and thus should not be compared with other intertidal or subtidal fish species of different families, because of its possible different evolutionary origin and different environmental conditions.

This species was previously recovered from depths of 73 to 552 m (Anderson & Gosztonyi 1991, Anderson 1992), now extended to 634 m. Analyses of the catches of O. macrops have also permitted a historical vision of the few known records (Fig. 1). The results of the present study also mean important contribution for a broad understanding of the South American zoarcids and further studies on it, because include new morphological data and offers new biological material as documented evidences preserved in appropriate scientific collections.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank personnel from the R/V Vidal Gormaz, for their assistance in obtaining samples during CIMAR 7-Fjord Cruise; M. E. Anderson (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa) and A. E. Gosztonyi (Centro Nacional Patagónico, Puerto Madryn, Argentina), who provided valuable bibliography. Dr. Anderson was of great help, as he confirmed the identification of O. macrops and making valuable comments on the manuscript. The Deutsche Akademische Austaudienst (D.A.A.D.) financed a trip for the first author to Bremerhaven, in order to study ichthyological materials obtained by the cruise of the R/V Victor Hensen in 1994. Dr. Wolf Arntz, Director, Alfred Wegener Institut, Bremerhaven, Germany, lent valuable help from his Institute. Luis Hidalgo (Librarian, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Santiago) aided by obtaining bibliographic materials; León Matamala (Instituto de Zoología, Universidad Austral de Chile) provided laboratory assistance. We also acknowledge the judgements and opinions of two anonymous referees, which helped to improve this contribution. This report represents partial results from CIMAR-7 Fiordos Project, of the Comité Oceanográfico Nacional (CONA) and Project DID-2005-03 of the Universidad Austral de Chile.

LITERATURE CITED

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Anderson ME & AE Gosztonyi. 1991. Studies on the Zoarcidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) of the Southern Hemisphere. IV. New records and a new species from the Magellan Province of South America. JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Ichthyological Bulletin 55: 1-16. [ Links ]

Gosztonyi AE. 1977. Results of the research cruises of FRV Walther Herwig to South America. XLVIII, Revision of the South American Zoarcidae (Osteichthyes: Blennioidei), with the description of three new genera and five new species. Archiv für Fischereiwissenschaft 27(3): 191-249. [ Links ]

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